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7,000+ High School Students Celebrated Biomechanics on NBD 2017(and there are a few more NBD events still to come)

Hello Fellow ISB Members,

Please commence Jumping For Joy! We enlightened this vast amount of high school students in our synchronized, around-the-world celebration of Biomechanics. National Biomechanics Day was a resounding success for the second consecutive year while remaining a giant fun-fest of Biomechanics, science, STEM, and STEAM as everyone reported smiles, thrills, and awe among all participants. You can see the celebration throughout social media and also through a few slides HERE. We happily extend our mantra from last year: NBD 2017 was the single greatest day in biomechanics: there were more smiles on more faces in more biomechanics labs than ever before. Let’s all thank each other for contributing so successfully to our mission which is to bring Biomechanics into high school curricula around the world and thereby increase the impact of Biomechanics on society. Along this line we propose that Biomechanics will be the breakthrough science of the 21st century… and we mean it in a Big Way. I have written about this opportunity on Facebook and included at the end of this letter.

Please spend a few moments viewing, liking, forwarding, and retweeting The Global Phenomenon that is (Inter)National Biomechanics Day (yes, next year we’ll figure out our new name):

NBD was initiated in 2016 and it was energetically enacted by members of the American Society of Biomechanics. It also excited many biomechanists around the world and led to our around-the-globe expansion this year. We received support from many international organizations and commercial enterprises including the International and Brazilian Societies of Biomechanics, the Osteoarthritis Research Society International, AMTI, IMeasureU, and Nike, to name a few. But how can we succeed and even improve our event in 2018 and future years? The answer is:

We demonstrated our viability with 2,000+ high school students in 2016 and we fully established NBD with 7,000+ students this year. It is now time for ALL BIOMECHANISTS TO JOIN THE MOVEMENT. We can have 20,000, 30,000, even more high schoolers learning and enjoying Biomechanics in 2018. We will inspire even ourselves with this level of success and it will truly change the world from the simple level of more undergraduates anticipating and enjoying their Biomechanics courses to the beneficial level of more people doing Biomechanics for their careers, to the exciting level of Biomechanics developing along lines not even envisioned today to the supreme level of Biomechanics having true meaning and importance to human society. People will consider, as truly typical and necessary the biomechanical perspective to address and improve the human condition. Biomechanics will no longer be that, “…you know…cool sounding…but…wait, what is it?” science but an irresistible part of life. We can achieve this success; Biomechanics can become the breakthrough science of the 21st century IF WE ALL UNIFORMLY AND IRRESISTIBLY PARTICIPATE in 2018. NBD 2018 can be stunningly superb and awesome if the entire world participates. If you have not yet participated, you will be surprised at how our synchronized events are more than lab demonstrations. They are as I wrote above, a movement.

I respectfully ask all biomechanists to participate in International-National Biomechanics Day 2018 (whatever we call it). Please and Really. The outcome would be incredible and important. You and we will change the world. Please support NBD.

Please, give it a shot. Take a chance. Join the fun and let’s see where we can go. Do not resist. Do not decline. Do not do not. Only do. And who are we talking to? You.

NBD can also change the face and nature of science. NBD 2017 was greatly inclusive with over 50% female students and nearly 50% non-Caucasian participants. Everyone is invited to the party.

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In the, “This Just In,” news category, Justus Ortega from Humboldt State University just now emailed his NBD numbers and demographics to me: 55 students with 18 males, 37 females. Other NBDs have not yet reported and a few will occur in May. Make that 7,000++ high schoolers!

His summary, “It was awesome… and it is inspiring.” Thanks, Justus.

Let’s ask this group of 300 Brazilian students to, “raise your hand if you like NBD,”

Icons reference

Hello and Welcome to the ISB student section!

The student section is devoted to providing students with information and resources that may be helpful during your studies. As a student member of the ISB you are able to apply for ISB funded grants and awards, participate in mentor opportunities, become a member of the ISB student members Facebook group and have access to the online forms and discussions available on this page. The Student Welcome Letter outlines the different resources provided by the ISB for its student members (click here). Below are links to some of the resources available to ISB members that may help you with your studies.

Working groups

Forming and Running Technical Groups

Forming and running Technical and Working groups is not limited to those above and the ISB encourages the development and running of these groups by support and sponsorship in various forms, such as sponsoring keynote speakers at scientific meetings, hosting the website etc. To ensure the sustainability of the Technical and Working groups the ISB has a formal constitution for forming and running of these Groups, which are extracted from section 9 of the ISB constitution and listed below.

Technical groups of the Society shall be created from time to time for the purpose of advancing knowledge in a specialized area, or on a specific topic within the field of Biomechanics.

Members of the Society who have worked together informally to advance knowledge in a specialized area, or on a specific topic, for a period of at least four years (during which they may be referred to as a Working Group) may submit an application to the Executive Council for their group to be designated as a Technical Group of the Society.

Applications for designation as a Technical Group of the Society shall be decided on a majority vote of those members of the Executive Council present at the meeting for which the formation of the group has been proposed as part of the circulated agenda.

The activities of Technical Groups shall be administered by an Executive Board. The structure of this Board, how officers are elected, and how the Executive Board operates, will be defined in the Codes of Operation for each Technical Group which will be endorsed by the Executive Council.

The Board for each Technical Group shall meet at least once every two years.

Technical groups shall plan and conduct professional meetings, provided that prior approval for such meetings is obtained from a committee consisting of the President- Elect, President (Chairperson) and Past-President of the Society (hereafter referred to as the Committee of Presidents).

Technical groups shall enter into agreements with other organizations only after obtaining approval of the Committee of Presidents.

The Chairperson of each Technical Group, or a person designated by him or her, shall present, in person, a written report of the activities of the Technical Group to the Executive Council of the Society, at the time of each Congress of the International Society of Biomechanics.

Technical Groups may be disbanded by the Executive Council of the Society when, through failure to meet the obligations of any of the clauses of this Article, or for other reasons, they cease to serve the best interests of the Society.

In addition these its desirable that the ISB Technical and Working Groups run their scientific meetings at least every six years in conjunction with the ISB Congress. Also these Groups should acknowledge the sponsorship of the ISB on their web sites and at their scientific meetings.

Join the ISB / Renew your Membership

ISB membership is annual, renewable in January of each year. If you join or renew your membership at any time during the year, you will become a member for that year and you will receive all journal issues, including back issues, for the current volume. Renewal advice is sent to Members each December, at which time the fees for the following year are posted.

Membership dues and journal subscription fees can now be paid by secure online credit card transaction.

The ISB is very pleased to have company sponsors with products that have applications in various areas of biomechanics. The ISB provides the sponsors with unique opportunities of getting in touch with numerous specialists, coming from all over the world. The ISB are thankful and proud of our sponsors.

Gold sponsors

Silver sponsors

Bronze sponsors

Every two years at the ISB Congress, the Society recognizes scientific achievement and honours those who have made outstanding contributions to the field of Biomechanics by presenting honours and awards.The awards and honours and their inks are listed below. The rules for each award and honour are different (e.g. Muybridge candidates are selected by a panel, Young Investigator candidates by nomination) so for further information please contact the Awards Officer, Prof Catherine Disselhorst-Klug, Institute of Applied Medical Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 20, D-52074, Aachen, Germany, Phone: +49 241 808 7011, Fax: +49 241 808 2442, Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Awards

The primary purpose of the International Society of Biomechanics (ISB) is to promote and stimulate the development of biomechanics at the international level. ISB recognizes that numerous national and regional societies of biomechanics or related topics have emerged in various parts of the world. In some countries several biomechanics societies exist which represent sub disciplinary interests. Future enhancement of the quality and scope of biomechanics research depends upon mutual co-operation and support of all of these groups. For these reasons, ISB has an Affiliate Society Membership code, explained more fully in the ISB's code of practice for affiliate societies.

I once told my students that the most important paper in biomechanics is about a jumping lamp. This 1988 paper was an important proof of concept for trajectory optimization to predict human motion from models:

Winter's mechanical energy paper (1983) is still a very relevant trusted source of information. This is the inspiration for modern prosthetic devices. Winter showed that the knee mostly absorbs energy, so can be replaced by a controlled damper, and the ankle must generate a lot of energy so that is where a motor can be helpful.

Energy generation and absorption at the ankle and knee during fast, natural and slow cadences (Winter, 1983)

This was the first paper published on the direct linear transformation (DLT) method, the basis of 3D motion capture. It takes the technique back to 'first principles' so students understand the theory behind the systems currently available.

Mechanical stability of the in vivo lumbar spine: implications for injury and chronic low back pain (Cholewicki and McGill, 1996)

This paper highlights some of the diverse areas in which "biomechanics impacts society" and the research of five internationally famous biomechanists as the role models. This has proven useful to expose students at the University of Michigan to the breadth and impact of biomechanics, particularly in areas that not everyone associates with "traditional" biomechanics. It may also be useful for other students, around the world, to learn of the diversity of biomechanics.

History and Purpose

The International Society of Biomechanics (ISB) was founded at Penn State University on August 30, 1973 to promote the study of all areas of biomechanics at the international level. The ISB promotes and supports international contacts amongst scientists, the dissemination of knowledge, and the activities of national organizations in the field of biomechanics. The ISB has a broad view of the science and application of biomechanics, believing that biomechanics has a major role in the study of all biological systems, from the level of the whole organism down to molecular size scales. Therefore, the Society's membership includes scientists from a large variety of disciplines including anatomy, physiology, engineering (biomedical, mechanical, mechatronics, etc.), orthopedics, rehabilitation medicine, sports science, sports medicine, ergonomics, electrophysiological kinesiology and others.

Since its founding the ISB has grown to a membership of well over 1,000 people. The Society provides for affiliate membership of national biomechanics organizations, which currently include the American Society of Biomechanics, British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Bulgarian Society of Biomechanics, Canadian Society of Biomechanics, Chinese Society of Sports Biomechanics, Comisia de Biomecanica Inginerie si Informatica (Romania), Czech Society of Biomechanics, Danish Society of Biomechanics, Japanese Society of Biomechanics, Korean Society of Sport Biomechanics, Polish Society of Biomechanics, Russian Society of Biomechanics, Societe de Biomecanique (France), The Society also supports technical and working groups for the purpose of advancing knowledge in specialized areas within the field of biomechanics. Currently active technical sections include Computer Simulation, Shoulder Biomechanics, Footwear Biomechanics, 3-D Motion Analysis, Hand and Wrist Biomechanics and Motor Control Group.

The ISB is involved in many activties to promote biomehanics internationally. These activities include the organization of biennial ISB-international congresses, publication of congress proceedings and a biomechanics monograph series, distribution of a quarterly newsletter (ISBNow), and sponsorship of scientific meetings related to biomechanics. The ISB is affiliated with the Journal of Biomechanics, the Journal of Applied Biomechanics, Clinical Biomechanics, the Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology, and Gait and Posture. The Society also has a major Internet presence with the ISB on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, as well as sponsoring the Biomechanics Forum, Biomch-l.

The major activity of the Society is the organization and conduct of its biennial International Congress on Biomechanics. This provides a unique opportunity for participants to gain an understanding of the current status of the field and make valuable personal and professional contacts. To promote international development of the field, congresses are held in different countries. The recent congresses were held in USA, Taiwan, South Africa, Belgium and Brazil, with next being held in Glasgow, Scotland. The Proceedings and Books of Abstracts from these biennial congresses, as well as the separately published Keynote and Award-winning papers, are a valuable contribution to research literature and also serve to document the progress of the field of biomechanics. Recent ISB Congress proceedings back until 2001, with some Keynotes and Tutorials, are freely available online.

Sponsorship and Related Scientific Meetings

The ISB supports other scientific meetings concerned with biomechanics by serving as an official sponsor, or organising and sponsoring thematic sessions. In this capacity, the Society helps with dissemination of information and promotion of the meetings, encourages members to participate and assists with the planning and organization upon request. The ISB also sponsors and organizes various activities in Economically Developing Countries, including lecture tours and training.

Society Awards

The Society promotes excellence in biomechanics research by presenting a number of Awards at its Congresses. These include the Muybridge Award (the Society's highest honor for outstanding contributions to biomechanics), the Wartenweiler Memorial Lectureship (named after the Society's first President), David Winter Young Investigator Award and Clinical Biomechanics Award for the best papers presented competitively, and an award to the best student paper from an economically developing country. The Society also promotes scholarship through its Educational Programs at Congresses, its Promising Young Scientist Travel Grants scheme, whereby a member is funded to travel to another continent to further a research project, and a range of Student Grants-in-Aid of Research and for Congress attendance.

Benefits of Membership

Reduced Journal Subscription Rates.

Reduced Registration Fees at ISB Congresses and those of Affiliate Societies.

Opportunity to form international contacts and participate in technical and working groups of the Society.

Membership Application Procedure

Go to the Membership section of this website. Membership dues and subscription fees can be paid by either (i) a credit card debit authorization, or (ii) a cheque or money order in Australian dollars and drawn on an Australian Bank.

Executive Council

The ISB is governed by its Executive Council composed of the officers and council members who are elected by mail ballot for two year terms. They represent countries from throughout the world and various scientific areas within biomechanics. The council, which meets annually, provides leadership for the continued development of the Society. Many on-going activities are performed by Council appointed sub-committees such as publications, standards and terminology, award nominations, and others. The quarterly Newsletter serves to inform the members of current and future events and developments.

You many contact any member of the Executive Council for further information